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her sketch and tools outside.
    Claire grabbed a red skirt and a short-sleeved blouse, slipped on her red sandals and put her hair up in a ponytail. A little blush and lipstick, and she was done. This was her normal casual style of dressing when she wasn’t working. She felt comfortable in it but it wasn’t sexy. Sexy wasn’t what she usually went for in her day-to-day life.
    She left her bedroom and headed back outside. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Jacob standing in front of the drawing.
    He was wearing a tight T-shirt and jeans that made his ass look so good. Why was she suddenly fantasizing about a younger man? She’d had a few lovers over the years since her divorce. The problem was she had never felt that all-encompassing desire for someone. Her ex always made her feel like a cold fish. She’d thought for a long time that maybe something was wrong with her because she didn’t feel the passion so many others felt.
    When she looked at Jacob, her heart rate increased and it felt as if all the air had left her lungs. Her nipples were already tight little points. When he turned around to look at her, she felt a little dizzy. He reached for her, catching her arm to steady her.
    “Are you okay, Claire?”
    Say my name again.
    She wanted his sexy deep voice to say her name over and over. He was so close to her she could feel the heat from his body. Oh boy, she was in trouble.
    “Claire, are you feeling okay?”
    What did he think of her? Maybe that she was a little flighty. “I’m fine. I definitely need to get some food.”
    “Let’s have brunch first, then. I think I saw a little restaurant down the street.”
    “Rosa’s. It’s a great restaurant. We used to go all the time—it’s very casual and the food is fantastic.”
    “Then let’s go.”
    “Let me bring these inside.” She pointed to her art supplies.
    “I’ll help you.” He reached over and lifted the sketchpad while she gathered the other items.
    Claire followed him inside the cottage. He was just so beautiful. Men didn’t like to be called that, though. She dumped her supplies on the kitchen bar. “You can just leave that here for now,” she said, nodding to the sketchpad in his arms while at the same time trying to avoid his eyes.
    “Ready to go?” he asked as he walked to the front door and opened it for her.
    “Let me grab my purse and keys.” Claire had left them on the kitchen table. She shivered when she passed him exiting the door. She had to get her reaction to him under control.
     
     
     

 
    Chapter 5
     
    Rosa’s was always Claire’s favorite place to go. They were seated next to a window, and she could guess what people were thinking. Probably that she was his mother or that if they were a couple that she was a sugar mama.
    She snorted to herself. To be a sugar mama she would have to have a lot more money. She did okay with her job and her grandparents had left her some money. Most of that had been used to help raise Thomas because she hadn’t received any child support from her ex.
    A young blond waitress with big boobs came to take their order. Ignoring Claire, she leaned over Jacob’s shoulder too close, brushing her breasts against his back. “What do you fancy?” she asked, giving him a sultry smirk.
    To his credit, he didn’t respond to her overt flirting. Jacob moved away from her and placed his order. He was such a gentleman. Claire was impressed.
    When the frustrated waitress had taken both orders and walked off to get their drinks, Claire smiled at him. “She seems…friendly.”
    “She was being rude. She barely looked at you when she took your order.”
    “Well, she’s not trying to get a date from me.” Claire laughed.
    He smiled at her as he chuckled. “She won’t be getting one from me either. I’m not here to date. I’m here to relax.”
    “Can’t you do both? A good-looking young man like you should be able to enjoy yourself and date whomever you want.” She could feel his eyes